School Election Day

In 2007 more than 86% of registered voters in New Jersey did not bother to cast a ballot in the Annual School Election and if form holds up you can expect similar numbers today. Voters in Ocean County and in more than 90% of the state will decide the fate on proposed school budgets as well as select candidates to serve on local boards of education. Despite all the attention paid to education and the cost that goes with it most people will not take part in the voting process for a variety of reasons including apathy, frustration, and just plain laziness.

Budget increases have been held down as school districts work harder and harder to present no-frills spending plans which are leaner than ever. The public may still view them as excessive but the fact of the matter is that most of the figures in the budget are built in and non-negotiable. The budget needs to cover teacher salaries, transportation, books and supplies, maintenance and other costs which increase on a regular basis. Of course it’s local property taxes that fund the budget, which is a source of contention too many if not most voters. Talk continues about alternative ways to pay for education but there is no relief in sight. For that reason many don’t even look into the budget but rather take out their frustration on the “system” and automatically vote “no” because it’s their one chance to express their outrage.

However while it would be easy to blame these type of voters for defeated budgets the truth is they are not the problem which is no different today than many years ago when I was in school. If all the parents of school-age children…the ones who should care the most…supported their local budget then it would pass all the time. But sadly many of them won’t vote today and yet down the road will be the first to complain about things.

The system we have in New Jersey is far from perfect but so is everything else. I’ll continue to support my local budget and the school board candidates who are committed to not just watching how money is spent but rather the students and staff who make schools a source of pride in the community.